Mobile communication terminal with equalizer function

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a mobile communication terminal which is provided with an equalizer function of audio equipment to adjust a timbre of transmitting/received speech sounds so as to satisfy a great number of users having various individualities and tastes simultaneously. The mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes an equalizer connected to a CODEC, a speaker and a microphone for adjusting a timbre of an analog speech signal inputted thereto from the CODEC and/or a speech signal inputted thereto through the microphone, and an equalizer control circuit for controlling a timbre control operation of the equalizer according to a control signal of a CPU.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mobile communication terminals, andmore particularly, mobile communication terminals having an equalizerfunction.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a mobilecommunication terminal according to the related art.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a conventional mobile communicationterminal including a microphone 10 for inputting a transmitting speechsignal of a user, a speaker 20 for reproducing a speech signal receivedby the mobile communication terminal from his/her counterpart's mobilecommunication terminal via a base station, CODEC (Coder and Decoder) 30for coding and decoding a speech signal, i.e., for converting both ananalog speech signal into a digital speech signal and a digital speechsignal into an analog speech signal, and a CPU 40 for both controllingthe CODEC 30 and processing the digital speech signal inputted theretofrom the CODEC 30.

An operation of the conventional mobile communication terminalconstructed above will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG.1.

When an analog speech signal of a user is inputted to his/her mobilecommunication terminal through the microphone 10, it is applied to theCODEC 30 which converts his/her analog speech signal into a digitalspeech signal for application to the CPU 40. At this time, the CPU 40converts the digital speech signal inputted thereto into a highfrequency signal for transmission to a base station through an antenna(not shown).

Then, when a digital speech signal of a high frequency band of theuser's counterpart is received by the mobile communication terminal fromthe base station through the antenna, it is applied to the CODEC 30through the CPU 40 of thereof. The CODEC 30 converts the digital speechsignal into an analog speech signal to output the converted analogspeech signal to the outside through the speaker 20 so that a speech ofthe user's counterpart is reproduced. At this point, the CPU 40 controlsthe operation of the CODEC 30.

However, since the conventional mobile communication terminal does notinclude a separate unit for adjusting a timbre or tone color oftransmitting/received speech sounds, users had spoken by telephone witheach other with a timbre set initially by a manufacturer irrespective oftheir intentions. In this case, a difference between sensibilities ofrespective individuals causes some users to be discontented with a sharpor dull speech sound, but mobile communication terminal manufacturerscannot satisfy a great number of users having various desires andindividualities simultaneously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of theabove-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present inventionto provide a mobile communication terminal including an equalizerfunction, which can freely adjust a timbre of transmitting/receivedspeech sounds.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided amobile communication terminal, comprising: a CODEC adapted to convert adigital speech signal into an analog speech signal; an equalizer adaptedto adjust a timbre of the converted analog speech signal inputtedthereto from the CODEC; and a CPU adapted to supply a timbre controlsignal corresponding to a frequency band set by a user to the equalizer,and to supply the digital speech signal received from his/hercounterpart's mobile communication terminal to the CODEC.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is alsoprovided a mobile communication terminal, comprising: a microphoneadapted to input a transmitting speech signal; a speaker adapted toreproduce a received speech signal; a CODEC adapted to perform ananalog-digital conversion for the transmitting speech signal and adigital-analog conversion for the received speech signal; a CPU adaptedto generate a control signal according to a frequency band set by auser; an equalizer control section adapted to generate a timbre controlsignal according to the control signal of the CPU; and an equalizeradapted to adjust a frequency band of the transmitting/received speechsignals according to the timbre control signal inputted thereto from theequalizer control circuit, the equalizer being connected to themicrophone, the speaker and the CODEC in such a fashion that theequalizer is disposed between the microphone/speaker and the CODEC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile communication terminalaccording to the related art; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile communication terminalhaving an equalizer function according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention. Throughout the drawings, it is noted that the samereference numerals or letters will be used to designate like orequivalent elements having the same function.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the inner construction of amobile communication terminal having an equalizer function according tothe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile communication terminal is implemented byadding an equalizer control section 50 and an equalizer 60 to theconventional mobile communication terminal as shown in FIG. 1.

The equalizer control circuit 50 functions to supply a timbre controlsignal to the equalizer 60 under the control of the CPU 40, and theequalizer 60, which consists of a plurality of active filters, functionsto adjust a timbre of a speech signal inputted thereto from the CODEC 30according to the timbre control signal outputted from the equalizercontrol circuit 50.

Now, the operation of the mobile communication terminal according to thepresent invention as constructed above will be described hereinafterwith reference to FIG. 2.

First, a user sets an equalizer function on a user menu of the mobilecommunication terminal to set a desired frequency band. When theequalizer function is set, the CPU 40 supplies a control signalcorresponding to the frequency band set by the user to the equalizercontrol circuit 50. At this time, the equalizer control circuit 50supplies a timbre control signal for adjusting a frequency band of ananalog speech signal to the equalizer 60 according to the control signalinputted thereto from the CPU 40.

Therefore, the equalizer 60 adjusts a frequency band of an analog speechsignal of the user inputted thereto through the microphone 10 to applythe adjusted analog speech signal to the CODEC 30 for conversion of theanalog speech signal to a digital speech signal, or adjusts a frequencyband of a speech signal inputted thereto from the CODEC 30 to apply theadjusted speech signal to the speaker 20 so that a timbre oftransmitting/received speech sounds is adjusted. Also, since theoperations of the CODEC 30 and the CPU 40 of mobile communicationterminal according to the present invention are equivalent to those ofthe conventional mobile communication terminal, their detaileddescriptions will be avoided hereinafter.

Like this, since the mobile communication terminal of the presentinvention includes an equalizer function, a user can adjust a pitch anda loudness of a sound to conform to his/her taste so that a timbre oftransmitting/received speech sounds is adjusted.

Although the present invention has described an example of the casewhere a timbre of both transmitting and received speech signals isadjusted, it is not limited to this. Also, a timbre of a transmitting orreceived speech signal can be adjusted. The present invention may alsoallow the CPU to directly supply the timbre control signal to theequalizer without having a separate equalizer control circuit.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the present invention applies anequalizer function of audio equipment to a mobile communication terminalto adjust a timbre of transmitting/received speech sounds, therebysatisfying a great number of users having various desires andindividualities simultaneously.

While this invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thedisclosed embodiment, but, on the contrary, it is intended to covervarious modifications, variations or equivalents within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A mobile terminal for use in a wirelesscommunication, comprising: a speaker to provide audio signals decodedduring a wireless voice communication; an antenna to receive a speechsignal; an input device to receive user input to control equalizerfrequency of the audio signals output to the speaker of the mobileterminal; an equalizer configured to provide equalized signal of thereceived speech signal to the speaker; and a processor adapted to supplya first control signal corresponding to a frequency band set by a userto the equalizer, wherein the equalizer being controlled in response tothe first control signal.
 8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, furthercomprising a codec configured to decode a coded signal to a decodedsignal.
 9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the equalizer adjuststhe decoded signal to provide the equalized signal to the speaker. 10.The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured toprovide a second control signal to the codec.
 11. The mobile terminal ofclaim 7, wherein the equalizer is configured to be controlled using amenu of the mobile terminal.
 12. The mobile terminal of claim 7, whereinthe control signal adjusts the frequency band of an input signal to theequalizer.
 13. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the coded signalis received through the antenna.
 14. The mobile terminal of claim 13,wherein the coded signal comprises a voice communication.
 15. The mobileterminal of claim 13, wherein the coded signal is received in responseto establishing a wireless communication with a base station.
 16. Amobile terminal for use in a wireless communication, comprising: amicrophone to receive a speech signal; a speaker to provide audiosignals decoded during a wireless voice communication; an input deviceto receive user input to control equalizer frequency of the audiosignals output to the speaker of the mobile terminal; an equalizerconfigured to provide equalized signal of the received speech signal; anantenna to transmit data signal generated using the equalized signal;and a processor adapted to supply a first control signal correspondingto a frequency band set by a user to the equalizer, wherein theequalizer being controlled in response to the first control signal. 17.The mobile terminal of claim 16, further comprising a codec configuredto code the equalized signal to a coded signal.
 18. The mobile terminalof claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to provide a secondcontrol signal to the codec.
 19. The mobile terminal of claim 16,wherein the equalizer is configured to be controlled using a menu of themobile terminal.
 20. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein thecontrol signal adjusts the frequency band of an input signal to theequalizer.
 21. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication,the mobile terminal comprising: a microphone to receive a speech signal;a speaker to provide audio signals decoded during a wireless voicecommunication; an antenna to transmit data signal generated using thespeech signal; an input device to receive user input to controlequalizer frequency of the audio signals output to the speaker of themobile terminal; and a processor adapted to provide equalized signal ofthe received speech signal in response to a control signal correspondingto an equalizer frequency band set by a user.
 22. The mobile terminal ofclaim 21, wherein the processor further comprises a codec configured tocode the equalized signal to a coded signal.
 23. The mobile terminal ofclaim 22, wherein the processor is configured to provide a secondcontrol signal to the codec.
 24. The mobile terminal of claim 21,wherein equalizer function of the processor is configured to becontrolled using a menu of the mobile terminal.
 25. A method ofequalizing speech signal in a mobile terminal for use in a wirelesscommunication, the method comprising: receiving a speech signal;outputting through a speaker audio signals decoded during a wirelessvoice communication; processing user input received through an inputdevice to control equalizer frequency of the audio signals output to thespeaker of the mobile terminal; equalizing the received speech signal toprovide an equalized signal; transmitting data signal generated usingthe equalized signal; and providing a first control signal correspondingto a frequency band set by a user to the equalizer, wherein theequalizer is controlled in response to the first control signal.
 26. Themethod of claim 25, further comprising coding the equalized signal to acoded signal using a codec.